tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89669908113898116652012-02-11T09:44:26.663-08:00Practical concepts, strategies and ideas on marriage and parenting to help keep your family safe, healthy and growing.Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.comBlogger1661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-60342390426419128482012-02-08T15:08:00.000-08:002012-02-08T15:08:53.869-08:00

Some of us are old enough to remember Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Anyone who's ever seen the movie likely recalls the final scene where the two main characters are surrounded by more firepower than they will ever be able to handle. It's over because there is no way they can fight against everyone. They are outnumbered. Sometimes we need to look at parenting the same way. No, not as

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-30964638339253094692012-01-30T14:51:00.000-08:002012-01-30T14:51:20.964-08:00

Being married and being a parent have at least one thing in common. They are often hard. Life with a spouse or a child or two can become overwhelming even in the best of circumstances. And sometimes when we're struggling we make things worse because of our tenseness, anxiety and frustration. I was recently getting some physical therapy for my neck and back. My therapist, while a very nice guy,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-63269418532175498392012-01-20T05:57:00.000-08:002012-01-20T05:57:05.358-08:00

We all have them. Those little invisible spots that our spouse or kids hit with a word, look, action or remark that sets us off, right? They get pushed when we're in some of our best and worst moments. It happens in private and in public. And sometimes we can't help but respond with mega-emotion: anger, tears, panic despair. And we know the buttons that others have as well. And we can push

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-65200591063636105902012-01-16T07:08:00.000-08:002012-01-16T07:08:27.235-08:00

I was in a grocery store the other day and saw a sign I'd never seen before. It was for mock tender steak. I asked my wife about it and she'd never heard of it either. Maybe someone in the know can fill me in sometime. However, I thought about the possibilities. Is the steak really NOT tender but you think it is?  Is it so full of tenderizer that the juices run out of it while you eat it?  Who

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-1600991438595899172012-01-08T09:56:00.000-08:002012-01-08T09:56:32.327-08:00

Bill came home one evening and said to his wife Marcy, "Hey, how about we go on a date this weekend? It's been awhile and I miss it just being the two of us." Marcy, feeling overwhelmed with a five-year-old and and a two-year-old, not to mention trying to work part-time, blurts back, "Oh sure, I can hardly think about how to get through tonight much less get ready for a date. That takes baby

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-75840998099082850322012-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:002012-01-01T08:00:16.350-08:00

So how many New Year's mornings is this for you?  Twenty, thirty, forty or more?  Lots of parties, gatherings with friends, celebrations, fireworks, good food and drink the night before and a nice, quiet start to the year afterwards, right? Good for you. However, how many times, during the weeks to follow, would you say there was some significant change in your life? How many of those resolutions

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-5483018232078381662011-12-24T07:41:00.000-08:002011-12-24T07:41:19.406-08:00

It may sound a bit morbid but a lot of people die before they plan on it.  In fact most do.  I think of a former pastor we knew who was so looking forward to retirement and to doing some of those things with his wife that he felt had to wait during his ministry years. Unfortunately he contracted a swift-growing cancer and died at sixty-five. However, dreams and doing special, life-changing

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-55578339766577167002011-12-16T17:30:00.000-08:002011-12-16T17:30:50.875-08:00

It happens all the time. Little Ryan's parents tell him that it's time to go and take his bath but Ryan doesn't move. Five minutes pass and they tell him again. This time he says, "OK, but I just want to reach one more level on my game." Five more minutes go by and Ryan is still intently working his joy stick. Mom comes in and says with more intensity, "Ryan, I'm not going to tell you again. Put

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-12971217440154790732011-12-09T06:21:00.000-08:002011-12-09T06:21:22.719-08:00

Have you ever tried to get someone's attention?  The nurse at the hospital, the vendor at the game, the teller at the bank or a clerk in the department store? And isn't it horribly frustrating when they don't seem to notice you or give you that look like, "I really don't have time for you, right now?" But isn't it refreshing when one of those same people gives you the sense that they want to do

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-39797257104609199452011-12-04T13:55:00.000-08:002011-12-04T13:55:59.067-08:00

Since 1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics has been discouraging parents from allowing kids under two to watch television. However, many parents, leaders and even some pediatricians have felt that the academy's views were draconian and out of touch at best. However, ongoing study and more recent research have showed a couple of concepts to still be true. First, young children learn best from

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-1367160184203447622011-11-27T14:54:00.000-08:002011-11-27T14:58:01.991-08:00

It has become known as Black Friday. It's the day after Thanksgiving when so many get up in the middle of the night or don't go to bed at all so they can shop for all the sales. For some it's a holiday tradition while for others a chance to seriously save some money. Who knows if they really save anything but that's their sincere goal in many cases. And frankly, enjoying family time in a fun,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-25859561602728658742011-11-19T13:09:00.000-08:002011-11-19T13:09:37.143-08:00

I'll bet you're already envisioning what Christmas will be like at your house. Perhaps it will include a  service somewhere, family gatherings, a special breakfast, gifts under the tree, visits to local lighting displays and lots of great food. You probably have other special traditions that are unique to your family and all those things are good and right to enjoy. Christmas should be a time of

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-21120367025595090152011-11-12T09:01:00.000-08:002011-11-19T13:12:03.634-08:00

I'm sure thousands of articles and blog posts have been or will be written about the terrible revelations of child abuse at Penn State. And unless we're experts in the law or know facts that the general public doesn't know none of us writers should be making judgments about motives, actions and intentions that we can't possibly know about for sure. However, there seems to be one thing that is

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-79408592679201281322011-11-05T13:56:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:13:44.117-08:00

I'll bet that you and your spouse can quickly come up with a list of things you do individually that are just routine in your daily schedule. You make your coffee, take a shower, read the paper, turn on the TV, go to church, take the kids to school and dozens more. And while some of those activities are simply our personal choice,  many of our habits are helpful because they keep us doing things

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-73943029915093883672011-10-31T12:10:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:15:36.246-08:00

I'm writing sitting in bed in a hotel room in Moscow, Russia. We're just finishing twelve days here having helped organize and lead a worship and pastors' conference here. One of the best parts for me this year is that my wife Jackie was able to join me in Russia for the third of my fourteen trips here. She worked tirelessly with our hospitality team as they took care of both our staff and those

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-33080259652323211242011-10-15T13:59:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:17:36.949-08:00

Comedian Martin Mull once said,  "Having a family is like having a bowling alley installed in your brain."  I think most of us parents can identify with the many challenges and often the "noise" of having kids. Children  always have new ideas and new ways to push us to the limits on our decision-making. That's why it's important for parents to decide (ahead of time, if possible) what things they

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-91989638263791006732011-10-08T14:19:00.000-07:002011-12-27T17:42:56.182-08:00

We tried something part way through our parenting years with each child that seemed to be a favorite and positive learning and growing experience. When they were approaching thirteen we developed a year-long challenge for them with a perk or two involved to give them some incentive. We wanted to help them grow as Jesus did in "wisdom, stature, favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52) in a significant

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-22432423439416479192011-10-02T12:58:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:23:07.066-08:00

I was at a large conference this week and happened to sit behind what turned out to be a very special family. A father, mother and son were all in the row ahead and nothing looked abnormal at first. The son, at least an older teen or perhaps a young man in his early twenties, sat between his mom and dad. However, the son had seemed pretty quiet and I didn't see or hear him talk for a number of

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-56594132126303388372011-09-23T17:03:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:28:55.925-08:00

This is my 150th post on my Safe At Home blog. Compared to some bloggers and writers that's a drop in the bucket. However, put my total next to many others and  I appear like a novelist. Whatever your perspective, I'm pretty thankful I've lasted this long. While I love to write it would be easy to think that I'm out of ideas or it's just not worth putting in the time. But over a couple of years

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-87638927681753471782011-09-18T13:47:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:30:42.652-08:00

Farmers think about it. So do climbers. Even surgeons know it's important. You can't plant corn in the fall in the Midwest. You don't head for the summit in the late afternoon in the Rockies. And doctors make sure their patients are physically stable before they allow them to be operated on. In other words they all know the importance of timing. Families need to also understand that timing can

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-49080936445075394142011-09-12T13:06:00.000-07:002011-12-05T16:57:43.291-08:00

I originally named my blog Safe At Home for a reason. Sure, it's a clever (at least I think so!) play on words with a baseball analogy. But more importantly I've worked with families long enough to know that many homes simply aren't safe even though the people in it think so. In recent years homeowners have been told that they should have their dwellings checked for radon gas. Apparently it's

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-4983230420359672412011-09-08T20:02:00.001-07:002011-09-08T20:02:56.959-07:00

We all will face some sort of devastating experience, illness, or loss in our lifetime. Some of us have even faced what may seem horribly unfair especially when compared to others. And while we should never minimize our struggle or those of others there are important things we can and must take away from and yes through even the worst of times. Let me suggest a few. First, we can learn more

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-41197160323626019522011-09-03T07:21:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:25:16.375-08:00

I currently live in Austin, Texas. We're experiencing our latest drought, one which has broken some all-time records. It was 112 degrees the other day tying the highest temperature ever. Our lakes our down some 40+ feet. We had the second most number of days in a row over a 100 and the most days above the century mark ever for one year. So as you might expect the officials in our counties are

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-37702811278090190202011-08-27T11:51:00.000-07:002011-11-27T15:06:30.820-08:00

We've all had a child or two push us on our expectations, right? Your son should know that he can't be a jerk in public but he makes a scene in the restaurant nonetheless. Your daughter seems like she knows that she just can't wear anything to school but one morning she throws a tantrum demanding she get to put on her favorite outfit when you object. So what do you do? How do you handle those

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-73264755407344928632011-08-20T08:08:00.000-07:002012-02-11T09:44:26.685-08:00

All families are different and unique. They come in varying sizes, shapes, locations, and personalities. There are lots of things that one family will do or enjoy that another family would hate. That's normal and OK. However, I want to suggest five priorities that every parent needs to include in their home no matter who you are, where you live or what you have. These five actions are not only

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-224705711954656482011-08-15T18:21:00.000-07:002011-12-11T07:29:38.052-08:00

This past weekend my wife and I stayed in a hotel overlooking Reliant Stadium in Houston where their pro football team plays and other large stadium events are held. The arena is a beautiful facility, modern and impressive especially at first glance. However, right next to it stands a large, greyish, starkly naked building that looks like it was once something but clearly no longer has any

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-3756051130825878392011-08-11T18:06:00.000-07:002012-01-14T12:40:59.477-08:00

If you've ever written a comment on someone's blog you know that sometimes you get a message like, "This comment awaiting moderation." That means that someone needs to review  your comments, make sure they're not out of line, laced with profanity or too long.  You have to be reviewed by a moderator.  Good idea unless you don't care what shows up on your public blog. However, I wonder if that

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-7460014239574961272011-08-05T17:30:00.000-07:002011-12-12T12:32:21.914-08:00

All couples fight or at least disagree. However, not all couples do it well. Sadly, some marriages have ended not because they weren't in love, but because they did so much damage when they weren't feeling very loving. Their words, expressions, and responses all spoke more to their winning their own personal battle than trying to understand the other person. Other had terrible models in their

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-63322549387790713232011-07-29T17:48:00.000-07:002011-12-16T17:37:39.571-08:00

There was a popular song when I was much younger that started with the lyrics, "Slow down, you move too fast, got to make the morning last."  Sadly the title of that song included less than profound and meaningful words, "Feelin' Groovy." However, I wonder if those first lines of that song aren't still a wise admonition for much of our culture today and perhaps for you at your house . . . "Slow

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-38067863231801641852011-07-23T19:47:00.000-07:002011-12-25T07:27:02.673-08:00

The other day I discovered that my wife had a bag of Hershey's Kisses in the pantry. I hadn't seen that many of those for a while but I quickly remembered how much I had always enjoyed them. And then I also realized that they've been making those kisses for a long time. I remember having them as a kid, pulling on the little string sticking out on top, unwrapping the shiny cover and popping it

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-49828130944969819092011-07-18T04:05:00.000-07:002011-12-30T15:12:51.002-08:00

My mom's neighbor died recently. His name was Ernie. I didn't know him well although I'd met him a few times while visiting my former home. But I'd heard about him many times, usually through my mom, about how much he was known for helping others. He'd watch over her house while she was gone, see that the yard got watered or whatever else was needed. I've also heard similar stories or comments

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-51267555241032634642011-07-10T11:38:00.000-07:002011-12-20T19:18:13.448-08:00

The Smiths pay their kids for good grades. The Johnsons wouldn't think of it. The Andersons have found that providing financial and privilege incentives for their elementary-aged children really motivates them but the Davis' think kids need to learn to do their part without complaining. Parents and so-called parenting "experts" have disagreed for decades about whether children should be given

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-83042760031754734982011-07-05T17:43:00.000-07:002011-11-28T18:40:59.791-08:00

If you're at least forty-five or fifty then you probably remember a sappy, but very popular movie from years ago called Love Story. It was probably one of the most viewed movies that year although I don't think it won any major awards.  Nonetheless, the most famous line of that film was no doubt, Love means you never have to say you're sorry. Yep, nice movie line. Unfortunately it was untrue

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-25753218187974787682011-06-26T04:26:00.000-07:002011-12-06T15:21:10.796-08:00

Today is our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary!  On the one hand it seems like we've been married forever (we've been married much longer than we were single!).  Other times though we wonder where all those years went. We have usually enjoyed celebrating  in pretty simple ways each year - a quiet dinner, a weekend away, tickets to a concert. We've never needed a lot of fancy things. We're still

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-63127998277418525152011-06-17T14:34:00.000-07:002012-01-16T07:16:27.924-08:00

So let me continue what I began in my last post about helping your marriage last until death do you part.  It's not easy, there are no simple recipes but there are a few principles that can help. Brag about your spouse to others. No, don't make things up. But be sure to speak well about your mate to your friends, relatives, neighbors and associates.  I regularly hear about people who tell jokes,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-14049044493596921332011-06-12T15:08:00.000-07:002012-01-02T16:37:36.700-08:00

My wife Jackie and I just returned from a twelve -day thirty-fifth anniversary trip to Alaska.  No, we don't do big trips like that very often but certain special anniversaries have encouraged us to try something a little grander now and then. How do you have a marriage that lasts thirty-five years or more?  I met a couple the other day who'd been married sixty years!  I felt like a marital

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-34021257191907157292011-05-28T07:44:00.000-07:002012-01-08T12:16:37.252-08:00

I've learned over the years why God made teenagers. To punish us parents for the way we acted as children. OK, maybe that's not his purpose but it sure seems reasonable. But let's face it one of our big struggles is that we simply don't know what they're going to do much of the time and frankly they don't either. They have these maturing, growing bodies facing all sorts of unknowns, peer

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-46542690244389326382011-05-21T06:24:00.000-07:002011-05-21T06:24:22.136-07:00

A survey came out this week that suggests the average married couple fights or at least spar with each other seven times a day! That means there are some who must fight more and of course some less.  But the bigger questions seem to be, "How do we fight and why?  What purpose does our arguing accomplish? And are there better ways to handle our conflicts. Yes, conflict is normal. Every couple has

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-42296752763864160322011-05-16T17:26:00.000-07:002011-12-14T15:26:53.979-08:00

Maybe you smoke, maybe you don't. But if you're a non-smoker then you likely don't appreciate having to breathe the billows from another person's cigarette.  A funny remark a few years ago went something like this, "I'll breathe your smoke if you'll chew my gum." However, this post isn't about real smoke. We can debate that issue another time. But people in homes everywhere have breathed in a

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-7577883537634973492011-04-29T05:22:00.000-07:002011-12-02T10:25:25.456-08:00

Ok, so one of my favorite movies is The Princess Bride. And many of you know there's this hilarious Miracle Max (Billy Crystal) scene where Max doesn't want to hear anything about Humperdink the king he formerly served.  So as Max's wife shouts "Humperdink, Humperdink, Humperdink," Max runs around with his hands over his ears saying, "I'm not listening." Unfortunately there are many spouses who

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-53523655449498108102011-04-19T18:10:00.000-07:002011-12-27T17:54:45.453-08:00

I was at a friend's house recently where his family owned two dogs. One was a small Shorkey puppy while the other was an older mix. As I reached down to pet the lovable  white pup, my friend pointed out how oddly the dog was sitting up against the counter wall. And  he was right. The little guy was sort of hunched up with part of its behind against the wall while it's front was at a funny angle.

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-8361835036001270842011-04-09T08:03:00.000-07:002011-04-09T08:03:52.948-07:00

Ryan was a junior in high school. Worked for decent grades, rarely got in trouble and was well liked. However, at home he was starting to push harder on his parents to have more freedom, to be more independent. He had begun asking that the curfew be taken away, that he be able to make even more of his decisions without parental advisement and that he not have to always let mom and dad know where

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-67663510348253480352011-04-06T15:36:00.000-07:002012-01-09T16:00:06.755-08:00

Most of us have forgotten most of what happened or was said to us five, ten, twenty, or forty years ago. But there are likely a couple of things that DO stand out. Things that were special, events that were surprises, opportunities that were incredibly amazing and words that hurt. Yes, words that stung, that attacked our character, that made us feel ashamed are ones that stay with us for awhile,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-38948071665093130792011-04-02T07:48:00.000-07:002012-01-22T10:56:31.989-08:00

Periodically, I see tendencies in me that remind me of my parents. And while sometimes that's a positive, many times I just say, "Oh no!"  I've become one of them. I'd like to blame it all on genetics, but most of the time it's just modeling. I learned to do things their way, right or wrong. That's a pretty important reality for us when we become parents ourselves. Because everyday our children

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-83599725479416097252011-03-30T06:07:00.000-07:002011-11-27T15:21:56.991-08:00

Just this week I heard about a woman in California who gives her 8 year old botox injections to help her look better for her pageants. Days later I saw a news story reporting that a major clothing store is offering a push-up bra for little girls. Now trying to get kids to act and be older than they are is nothing new. It's just that the ages seem to be lowering and the ideas to "mature" the kids

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-1722543350034284662011-03-24T16:43:00.000-07:002012-01-21T09:22:37.933-08:00

We've all had the experience of picking up our camera, looking at our watch or grabbing a needed flashlight during a blackout only to discover that the batteries were gone or failing, right?  And then we usually discover that we don't actually have a replacement anyway. Irritating to say the least. In the same way married people can have their emotional, physical and spiritual batteries worn

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-76024532462729036622011-03-19T08:16:00.000-07:002011-03-19T08:16:28.909-07:00

There's a billboard near our house advertising diamonds that says, "She'll owe you big time!"  Of course the idea is that if he buys her their beautiful diamond engagement ring she will be somehow obligated to him later. He'll get something in return for him. Wow. Really?  Now there's a great motive for marriage. On the other hand, it's a fair question to ask, "When people marry do they totally

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-84711470832197312712011-03-13T15:21:00.000-07:002011-03-13T15:21:12.437-07:00

There's a lot of internet traffic out there right now about a well-known pastor and outstanding communicator named Rob Bell. Apparently he has a book coming out that says that a loving God would never send people to Hell and as a result Love Wins, the title of his book I believe. Hell is essentially empty. And while it's tempting to jump into that discussion I'd rather talk about why I think the

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-28176045808585878142011-03-07T18:18:00.000-08:002011-03-07T18:18:14.600-08:00

I've never forgotten an illustration that Pastor Gordon McDonald told years ago, one that I've since learned more about firsthand. When you go whitewater rafting they first teach you the proper techniques, commands and responses to trouble when you are on land. Then once you're in the raft they have you practice while you're in the slowly moving water.  The whole idea is to help you get ready for

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-60257573442716606152011-03-02T15:39:00.000-08:002011-03-02T15:39:11.334-08:00

OK, so we know it's coming but we really hope we can just skip it. Why can't our kids just stay little, innocent and without any urges? Why do we have to talk with our kids about sex when it just makes us red-faced, nervous and nauseous while we're pretty sure they're just as panicked. Well, first consider the alternatives. They can just learn all their information on their own.  You know, get a

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-91885917644317686312011-02-19T07:14:00.000-08:002011-02-19T07:14:24.756-08:00

"Rebecca Wells, a compliance auditor and USC graduate, died in her cubicle Friday, but no one noticed her body for an entire day. The LA County employee was eventually noticed by a security guard on Saturday afternoon. Her body was found slumped over her desk, according to reports." That news story ran just the other day. A fifty-one year old woman passed away at work and no one saw her

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-25068408521414380232011-02-12T18:46:00.000-08:002011-02-12T18:46:52.256-08:00

It's Valentine's weekend.  Most wives have spent time either pouring over the cards in the card shop or like my wife, making one. Most guys will be trying to find a store still open after midnight and will pick out a card in less than sixty seconds. (I actually picked one out that quickly once but hung around a few minutes longer just to make sure the woman nearby didn't think I was just a 

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-43887110839931160572011-02-05T07:13:00.000-08:002011-02-05T07:13:31.555-08:00

We just experienced extended, freezing temperatures in Austin, TX. That doesn't happen very often. We even got an inch of snow, the kind of thing that only shows up once or twice a decade! Unfortunately a lot of homes and their owners weren't prepared for these unusual stresses. As a result, pipes froze and broke. And before long what started as a slow leak turned into a major flood and some

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-86242261649907016652011-01-31T17:10:00.000-08:002011-01-31T17:10:20.640-08:00

This past weekend I heard a dear missionary couple tell the story of how they recently lost their sweet daughter in her 20's to ovarian cancer.  And the same night a network television program focused on how another family's teenage daughter died in a car accident because she was texting and driving. Oh, how I pray that no one else reading this post would ever face those kinds of tragedies,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-45973360162431615372011-01-22T06:29:00.000-08:002011-01-22T06:29:00.998-08:00

Jackie and I were shopping just a few days after Christmas and saw a mom debating with her young daughter about whether she was going to buy her a new toy or not.  Maybe I didn't have all the facts but I'm thinking, "Hmm, is this really an issue right after the biggest gift giving day of the year?" It's not easy to say "no," is it, to the longings, loves and likes of the kids we love?  However,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-47760351287832249412011-01-17T13:51:00.000-08:002011-01-17T13:51:28.388-08:00

Marriages are being assaulted! I don't know of anyone who doesn't know at least one close friend, relative, neighbor or coworker whose marriage isn't struggling big time, on the verge of divorce or impacted by an affair. And I realize that one, marriage is never easy and two, there are lots of factors that complicate people's marriage stories and any attempts to fix them. Nonetheless, I want to

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-91043467583921034882011-01-08T07:13:00.000-08:002012-01-06T09:45:37.880-08:00

 I heard recently from a Christian school teacher who was shocked at how many of her elementary-aged students had received M-rated videos for Christmas. And of course most of us have seen young kids in movies, watching television programs or at concerts that were clearly inappropriate for them. The excuse that many parents use is that most of the mature concepts just go right over their heads

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-60283836216834746252010-12-24T08:37:00.000-08:002011-11-20T10:05:53.119-08:00

OK, so we've all done it. We've taken a gift given to us by someone else that we really didn't want and then passed it on to someone else later, right?  If we're honest, yes, that was a kind of cheap and lazy move for the most part. However, there are some things we have been given in life that we would be wise to pass on, especially to our kids, that they can take with them as well.  And yet,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-80734007557236402822010-12-17T18:42:00.000-08:002011-12-30T15:01:15.172-08:00

Have you ever noticed something common to many offices, funeral homes, waiting rooms and even homes?  There is often a stylish table or two stacked with books. The volumes are often beautiful, covered with striking pictures, multi-colored and likely expensive. The problem is that most of them never get opened.  Perhaps the top one gets paged through now and then but the rest accumulate dust and

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-54198845562858517552010-12-13T17:59:00.000-08:002011-12-19T13:08:52.325-08:00

The other day I heard someone on radio say, "Christmas is my favorite time of the year."  And of course most of us know the Christmas song favorite that begins, "It's the most wonderful time of the year."  And it is a special time. Who doesn't enjoy the gifts, lights, music, festive gatherings, great food and of course the story of Jesus' birth and all it means to us who follow Christ?  It's all

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-74619370867758442492010-12-06T15:18:00.000-08:002010-12-06T15:18:47.523-08:00

OK, so it's time that I talk some more about that three-letter word that starts with S. It's so difficult to mention even though we know we think about it all the time.  Of course I'm talking about SOX.  No not the White Sox or Red Sox, but the "socks" that you men still throw on the floor. It's one of those little things that yes you do to passively-aggressively (I am a counselor you know)

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-79668900919655162472010-11-30T14:37:00.000-08:002011-12-05T06:59:34.117-08:00

Have you ever seen someone respond badly to a medicine?  Allergic reactions can be dangerous, even deadly, and if nothing else can cause the adult or child to be miserable.  But here's the odd part.  The doctor or parent who gave the medicine meant no harm. Their plan and goal was to help the person to actually feel better and to be healed from their ailment. Unfortunately, the same scenario can

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-46221695569683257832010-11-24T16:29:00.000-08:002012-01-18T15:55:58.988-08:00

In my last post I spoke about four things that Jackie and I wanted to make sure our kids knew before they left our nest.  Let me suggest four more to ponder and see if they stimulate some other teachable ideas at your house. We also wanted our kids to know how blessed they are.  It really doesn't matter how much or little you have in America, you're at an advantage compared to much of the world.

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-37858609417331623062010-11-18T06:18:00.000-08:002012-01-18T15:53:31.570-08:00

If you could pick a handful of things you would want your kids to know the day they walk out the door of your home, what would they be?  Have you thought about them? If so, are you conscientiously teaching those things?  Chances are they won't learn them in one lesson. It will take repetition, years of modeling and lots of practical life experiences for those lessons to truly sink in. Let me

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-10172823188230837472010-11-11T18:53:00.000-08:002011-11-23T14:52:46.664-08:00

Last weekend I had the chance to spend a couple of days with two of my three grandsons and their mommy and daddy. Jeremiah, the three-year-old, and I would spend a good bit of time "working" outside - shoveling dirt, raking leaves and watering the flowers. And being November there were a lot of leaves on the ground - thousands? tens of thousands?  hundreds of thousands?  Who knows? But that

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-53817728529554214122010-11-06T07:07:00.000-07:002010-11-06T07:07:50.493-07:00

I was driving down the road at a conference this week when I came upon a huge sign that said Hell Is Real.  That was it.  No explanation, no place to find out more, just this in-your-face message about Hell.  Well, I'm thinking, cancer is real and abuse is real and messy marriages are real.  They're all bad, too.  Why don't we put them up on big signs reminding people of their existence? Some of

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-62274985402236318972010-11-02T18:04:00.000-07:002011-12-27T18:02:36.934-08:00

Do you know what everyone born in the 70's, 80's, 90's and through today has in common?  They're technically called the ME Generation. Somewhere in time our society began to subtly become more and more focused on MY needs, MY possessions, MY success and MY pleasures.  It's kind of sad, in one sense, that someone had to actually name it. However, if we're honest the ME in us didn't begin in the

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-53807840249612526902010-10-29T05:28:00.000-07:002011-11-26T09:05:14.128-08:00

Barbara Billingsley died the other day.  Who's that?  Some of you know she played the mom on Leave It To Beaver, the classic TV program back in the late 50's and 60's. Yes, that show was a far cry from family life today and in some ways that's a good thing.  Women in the 21st century don't all wear dresses and pearls around the house, the dads aren't all suited businessmen who work at some

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-68274764057017294882010-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:002010-10-24T06:01:19.847-07:00

My favorite humorist Dave Barry writes, "I wish there was an early morning kids' TV show called Let's Go Back to Bed. The licensed characters would yawn a lot and say: 'I'm tired! Let's all lie down and be very quiet until at least 7:45am!' Wouldn't that be great? Daddy would send money to that show." Can you relate? Some kids are early risers no matter what was happening the night before.

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-82586356782214264762010-10-14T17:07:00.000-07:002011-12-19T13:17:03.340-08:00

A woman went to the hospital and during surgery had a near-death experience. But during that time she saw  God so she asked Him, "Is this it?  Is life on earth over?"  And God said, "No, you actually have 35 years left. You're going to make it." So before long she woke up in her hospital bed and realized she was alright. As a result she decided to stay and have some plastic surgery done - a

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-26483277575091556042010-10-10T13:25:00.000-07:002010-10-10T13:25:54.572-07:00

I was recently told on Facebook for at least the hundredth time that I would finally be a real Christian if I would click that I liked their post. Wow, if I'd only known it was that easy years ago. I hope no one actually believes that authentic faith is so simple but apparently some do. It sure isn't at home. In fact I wonder how many of us have taken inventory lately of our closest

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-18430418824880752192010-10-03T14:55:00.000-07:002010-10-07T18:29:26.438-07:00

I was babysitting for my 14 month old grandson Liam the other day. And it became obvious again that his parents have taught him well about things that are not OK. He'll point at something like a plug or the computer and say "No," (sometimes Nah but we know what he means). It's pretty fun, really,  but it also shows that he can grasp the idea even at his young age. However, he's also very human

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-59276461332393888392010-09-28T14:44:00.000-07:002010-09-28T14:44:14.713-07:00

Jackie and I watched a little toddler almost die yesterday. We were at an overlook at Pedernales State Park in central Texas looking at the water rushing over two small falls that are famous in this part of the state. After heavy rains there was a significant amount of water flowing that makes that lookout particularly attractive. A woman was in one of the reachable dry spots with her two young

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-3699280223585696972010-09-23T05:43:00.000-07:002012-01-27T15:22:28.112-08:00

I recently made my fourteenth trip to Russia. Thankfully this time my wife went along but often she has to stay home. Thankfully I don't have to travel even more like so many do. But the impact of being away doesn't end when the plane's wheels touch down and I later walk in the door. I'm extra tired, jet-lagged and out of sorts for a few days as well. Let's face it - our families take a hit and

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-20646237235758111512010-09-09T04:13:00.000-07:002012-01-18T16:01:24.565-08:00

This week I experienced my first ear infection in say twenty-five years. The inside of my ear would simply start throbbing and the pain was awful. But I knew that in a couple of days I was also going to get on an airplane and fly 11-12 hours overseas. Not a good time to have ear problems. So I did the manly thing and downed a couple of margaritas.  No, I actually went to my doctor and he quickly

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-52522373783813335402010-09-05T15:41:00.000-07:002010-09-05T15:41:54.108-07:00

On a recent flight I sat next to a new, young pilot-in-training.  He even asked to sit by the window so he could see more of what was going on outside.  I asked him a couple of flying questions and he was more than eager to tell me what he knows.  As a long-time wannabe pilot I found his discussion fascinating and it made the trip go by faster, too. However, not too long into the flight we

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-15029508397482372842010-09-01T17:01:00.000-07:002010-09-01T17:01:00.730-07:00

I'm going to Russia again next week.  My twelfth trip. This time I get to travel with three very talented and passionate creative arts guys from my church and another eighteen people from various parts of the country. We'll be helping lead a worship conference for pastors, worship leaders and others who want to learn about helping others praise God and teach truth in meaningful, compelling and

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-48255836847197536392010-08-29T13:49:00.000-07:002010-08-29T13:49:58.662-07:00

Divorce happens. It's real. Sometimes it's unavoidable when one person isn't willing to work on their part of the marriage anymore or a spouse just leaves or it becomes dangerous to stay. But perhaps more tragic is when there truly is some hope, things could be fixed and the couple just decides to give up because it's too hard or "I've tried too long" or they never really knew how much better

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-691488745924642062010-08-23T14:03:00.000-07:002010-08-23T16:06:02.958-07:00

The other day I was picking up a subscription and the cashier ended the sale with the oft-used greeting, "Have a good one." For some odd reason I started to think about what that really might have meant.  "Have a good day?"  Perhaps.  "Have a good week, month, year, decade, century, eternity?"  Not as likely.  How about, "Have a good pill when your finally take one."  After all I was getting

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-49236635533716308752010-08-20T15:26:00.000-07:002011-11-28T18:48:10.174-08:00

Years ago a group of interchange designers were in a room with the purpose of planning how Interstate 35 would intersect in downtown Dallas with I 30, US 75 and the runways at DFW Airport. They were apparently smoking crack at the time and after several subsequent beers the chairman said, "OK, let's get started." If you've ever driven through the center of Dallas you know that none of the major 

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-22006288559111819502010-08-13T16:35:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:37:32.734-08:00

I read this in a hotel room recently. . . . "Due to the popularity of our hotel room items, we have them for sale at the front desk."  In other words people are stealing the hotel blind and they don't want you to take their stuff anymore.  OK, fine, but it seems like they should have said that. Can't they just be honest? I guess telling it like it is isn't that easy especially with those we love

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-3764206951132272272010-08-07T17:53:00.000-07:002010-08-07T17:53:27.459-07:00

I was recently in another church for a wedding and decided to glance through their song book.  Some of the titles were, When Cain Killed Abel, God Weeps and Crossing Waters At Creation.  I'm not making those up. I had to wonder how those songs could even be close to worshipful or uplifting.  They wouldn't work for me I'm sure. However, maybe they do inspire the people at the church.  I'll

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-69964697006751046032010-08-02T13:57:00.000-07:002010-08-02T13:57:29.035-07:00

Some of you remember the excruciating pain of childbirth. I sure do. My wife had a lot of it. I'm a wimp and if birthing the children were up to me . . . well . . . you see my point. Pain isn't fun.  And there are appropriate ways and times to try to reduce or get rid of it. And if you have a bad headache or backache there's nothing wrong or un-Christian about taking or doing something to soothe

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-75513305602565003172010-07-21T17:49:00.000-07:002010-07-21T17:49:17.166-07:00

I was at a high school graduation ceremony a number of weeks ago when a light in the auditorium apparently overheated and exploded during the speaker's address. There was a large popping sound and it looked like a few little specks were floating down into the audience.  In the area where I was sitting most everyone's attention was diverted to the action overhead and was no longer listening to the

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-58572560852885928472010-07-16T11:42:00.000-07:002011-12-03T12:16:11.338-08:00

I'm writing this post from Colorado where I and my family heard two parents within a couple of hours of each other profanely berate their kids in public. They swore at them!  And it was for nothing - such as not doing exactly what was expected of them while getting into the car. My wife, daughter and I just looked at each other.  I thought to myself, "Do these people really feel the hate they

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-86055170007409216012010-07-09T17:54:00.000-07:002010-07-09T17:54:08.387-07:00

Tomorrow my wife Jackie, daughter Amy and grandson Liam get on a plane to Colorado. We'll spend eight days in the Rockies at a timeshare condo we bought over fifteen years ago.  And every time I go back I can't help but reminisce about the fun family times we've had together over the years.  We didn't buy the timeshare week for an investment and it probably wouldn't sell for much now anyway but

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-79441240679349888762010-07-04T13:45:00.000-07:002010-07-04T13:45:23.817-07:00

I'm doing a wedding this fall and I asked the couple what time the wedding would start. Their response was, "As soon as the Texas/OU game is over." I guess we know what most of the wedding party will be doing before the wedding starts! Their comment reminded me that any of us who are married can allow our relationship to wane through an inordinate amount of time given to the hobbies, favorite

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-88617460268013136852010-06-28T17:03:00.000-07:002010-06-28T17:03:55.841-07:00

Most parents warily face the prospect of their children moving from child to adolescent.  It can be scary, overwhelming and the cause for many parents simply to drop their children off at a relative's home for 6 years. However, there are a few ways to make the transition a little less stressful.  First of all, gradually give your kids more and more responsibilities and appropriate freedoms.  You

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-78931394044967225122010-06-23T17:36:00.000-07:002010-06-23T17:36:36.846-07:00

The other night we were on an evening boat cruise here in Austin.  In front of us was a mother, father and two teenage daughters, one of which clearly didn't want to be there.  We've all seen it - the arms crossed, constant frown, rolling of the eyes while trying to let everyone around her know that she was totally miserable. Of course, the answer was easy.  Throw her overboard. OK, maybe that

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-4328945883437939192010-06-17T15:18:00.000-07:002011-11-19T13:41:39.703-08:00

There are few spouses or parents who wouldn't do most anything for their child or spouse, right?  I know I think that and would jump to protect any of them in a heartbeat.  However, I wonder sometimes if we are as loving as we think during the not-so-critical moments of life. Do we really know what sacrifice for each other is during the everyday times? For example, when it comes to our time, our

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-14395103314587846272010-06-13T16:13:00.000-07:002010-11-06T07:14:12.463-07:00

I'm likely going to get into trouble here but I don't see the point of soft drinks like Coke Zero.  Seems to me it's just colored, carbonated water without the good stuff.  But OK, if you like it, go for it. However, I wonder if sometimes our marriage and family relationships just look fine, but like diet beverages are missing the good stuff.  For example, if a husband and wife get along pretty

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-13567971072881681032010-06-08T15:25:00.000-07:002011-11-23T14:39:33.536-08:00

Here are a few more parenting suggestions that just might work or at least make your parenting a little more effective during those early years. Often kids don't want to go to bed.  OK, they never do. But the last thing a parent should allow is kids to determine their own bedtimes or to feel like every night they can "negotiate" a better deal. On the other hand young childen have reasonable,

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-92137976494919866572010-06-01T16:33:00.000-07:002011-11-23T14:37:20.935-08:00

OK, let me be honest. Most of what we've learned as parents has been through trial and error or we stole it from someone else. We generally didn't have a clue any more than anyone else. But that's probably true for most parents.  We simply don't know much when we have that first baby, do we? But that doesn't really matter.  As long as we finally figure it out, have some modicum of success and

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-36746294348233542502010-05-27T15:22:00.000-07:002010-05-27T15:22:51.658-07:00

While driving through the Texas hill country the other day Jackie and I went by a very good-sized, stone, and attractive church building in a town of several thousand people.  The problem was that their sign out front had been painted over. It was obvious this church was closed.  It had apparently died. How sad when there simply aren't enough churches in our country and churches are shutting

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-27401591182461398732010-05-23T13:50:00.000-07:002010-05-23T14:12:21.860-07:00

We're currently monitoring the status of and praying for two friends from our past who may die way too soon. Recently, people at the church where I serve have passed away with seemingly many years left in a normal lifespan. We had special prayer for a woman in her 50's who has cancer.  And while I don't want to be manipulatively morbid and know that most of us would rather not talk about

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-12653356402117296352010-05-19T14:13:00.000-07:002010-05-19T17:10:57.634-07:00

This week I've run into two more marriages and families that are on the ropes because of affairs. And I'm sad every time as I see the tears and feel the despair the wounded spouse faces when they learn of the betrayal and accompanying deception. I pray for the children who are often involved, many of them old enough to understand and feel the sting of their parent's mistakes.I wish I could take

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-72507787220212684112010-05-14T15:14:00.000-07:002010-05-14T16:53:29.227-07:00

I love technology. I'm no geek or expert but for someone my age I at least hold my own and use technical advances as much as I'm capable of. I even write on Facebook and use the IM feature! Technology has added much to our learning, leisure and connection abilities that our forefathers couldn't even dream about.However, too much technology can be harmful. First of all, technology can water down

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-439778465534140012010-05-08T10:41:00.001-07:002010-05-09T05:48:10.709-07:00

Moms come in all shapes, sizes, personalities and backgrounds. Some work outside the home, some do not. Some have lots of kids, others just one or two. Moms don't get an owner's manual the day that first child is born but some women have great moms who mentored and modeled for them well.Most moms learn a lot by trial and error while making tons of mistakes they wish they could have avoided. Many

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-22858434121136818402010-05-05T17:12:00.001-07:002010-05-05T17:29:25.251-07:00

Many have now seen the movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman where two older men decide to write lists of things they've always wanted to do before they kick the bucket. Unfortunately too many people wait to write, much less actually start fulfilling, their bucket list until they're too old or ill.However, a list of important goals and dreams has the potential to keep both a marriage

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966990811389811665.post-17111790730017398632010-05-02T12:35:00.000-07:002010-05-02T13:52:56.990-07:00

You see the guidelines all the time . . . things you should never or almost never do . . . to your car, with your clothes, involving electricity and the like. Usually we're smart to heed the warnings of the manufacturers or other experts who give us these cautions.Psychologist, John Gottman, has suggested four such warnings for married couples when it comes to communicating. I regularly share

Gary Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816458828781915540noreply@blogger.com0